Combined slingshot and arrow catapult



Sept. 16, 1952 D. BEAN COMBINED SLINGSHOT AND ARROW CATAPULT Filed April 2, 1947 I I Zinnentr i 6 I5 4 W Patented Sept. 16,1952

UNITED STATES COMBINED SLINGSHOTAND. ARROW? :CATAPULT: A DonaldBtean, Sari o s Application April 194'l, Seria:l;-No..

4- Claims. (01. 1-2 4 20) This invention'r'elates' to missile projectors and more particularly to an improved missile projector adapted to be readily and quickly converted from an arrow catapult to a slingshot and vice'versa'. I e

It is one object of the present invention to provide a convertible missile projector of simplified construction which can bemanufactured economically and yet be highly eflicient and effective in use Another object is to provide a combined slingshot and arrow 'catapultrequiring" a minimum number of parts so related as to be readily'posi tioned with respect to each other for either one or the other of its positions of use and'tobe of such'compactne'ss when in one of its positions of use as to be pocket size for the convenience of the user,

Another object is topr'ovide'an -arrow catapult by arranging the normally diverging arms of a slingshot crotch in abuttingrelation. 1

Another object is to provide a pair of slingshot crotch arms so confi'gurated' as to form an arrow guide when the armsare in abutting relation.

Another object is toprovide interlocking crotch arms for a slingshot cooperating with each other when. ini-abuttingi relationto. present an arrow guide in- 'alignmentwith the" anchorage of the elastic sling. associated therewith; ::Other objects andadvantages will-become apparent from the "following description in connections-with the. accompanyingv drawings in l. a. missile projector illustrating the same; as a slingshot.-. i I 1,; gli'i Z": 1

2 is a .side'elevationi'of the crotch arms shOWIi inFig. 1. '1 2.1.? :1. j Fig.13;is an;elevationa'l'view of the crotch arms of Fig; 2 disposed- 90f. :relative to the s ame, v the armsialso being shownini dotted lines to illustrate transition thereof during; conversion: into an are L WTCQ DUE. J

.v-Fi v,4 s. avi ent ryrelevation .offthe arms durin -t nas; sho n; inv do e .:.1.i.n in. F 3 datake lon ili 4. t e i.z ertai zporz icn o t ear s bein broke aw -f u pos s of jllustratiomg -Fig. a i eIevatib c m m ta y t -F g;

showing the crotch arms in; abutting relation for. es. W- 1 .15 1: F1." i.- '5.

Fig. 6-is a perspective viewer the missileprojector illustrating the same as. an arrow catapult. The device comprises a pair of armsv 10 and I [i pivotally connected with respect ,to each other at I I and adapted to provide a crotch l2 fora slingsho 1 Fig, '1, or a support 13 'for an-arrow catapult; Fig.6 Each arm lfl'and lll'may beconstiucted of wood; metal; plastic or the like,- in-the'for'rn or either a solid or a tubular member. 7

The arms l0 and I0 are preferably of identical shape each comprising a head portion I l-l4, a shank portion I5-|5 and a lower portion l6-|6', respectively.

The headportion I l-44", of each arm, is pro- '10 vided adjacent oneedge thereof with a binding post Hi-l8, respectively, in substantial ali n? ment with the lower portion 16-46 thereof. The head portions l4l4' areprovided, adjacent the opposite edges thereof, with a hump'portion ASP-l9 terminating in an identation 20-20% 20 vided with a fiat surface 2l--2I lying in a plane extending radially from the pivotal connection" ll of the arms. i

It will be'understood by those skilled in the art that the pivotal connection between the" arms m and in may be provided by a simple pin or by a'ny'well known form of interlocking appendages onthe arms I0 and I0.

In the present disclosure the lower portion |6-'|6 of each arm is reduced to about one half the thickness of the arm lU-l0' itself so that perspective view of my improved when the lower portions l6 l6' lie'side' by -side, the remaining portions l4, l5 and l4, l5 ofthe arms 10 and I0, respectively, will be disposed in substantially the same plane with respect toeach other, Fig. 2. Consequently the arms Ill-4U" are rotatable relative to each other in a common planev and, providing. the extreme ends of the lower portions l6 and I6 are in proximity to the pivotal connection ll therebetween', as for ex- 40 ample the broken ends thereof illustrated in Figs.

3 and 5, the two arms are adapted to be relatively swung from the position as shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 5. 1

Itwill be, noted that the cut back in'thickness of the arm Ill-40' is such as to provid i a pair ofrfaces 22-2'2 and 23- -23- disposed at an obtuseangle with respect to each other on the shankside of the pivotal connection ll between the armsllland'lfl'. j

The face 22 bi thearm- In is disposed to at;

,-, movement of the ,binding post edges ;of. .,the two arms toward each other, Fig. 3. The faces 23 tion relative to each other they are free to engage each other along their respective flat faces ZI-2l'. In this position, the adjacent indentations 28-20 on the head portions of the arms cooperate with each other to form an arrow guide 40 between the binding posts |a-|a'. -However when the arms I ll-IO are swungaway from th. aforementioned position in which their flat surf tfaces 2 I 2 i engage one another, a total of more. :than 180, the faces 2224 and j2 2;2 4,' on the respective arms cooperate with the pivotalconment of the arms toward each other. quently, despite the arms bein Pressed toward ach other by thehand of the person-holding the arms, see Fig. 1, the arms. are maintained at an acute angle relative to each other in the form, of a. slin shot c otch It is apparent that when thelower portions l6 and 16. of the two arms are. extended substantially beyond the pivotal connection [between the arms, the I foregoing relative swinging movemerit of the armsbetween the position shown in Fig.3 to-that; oiFig. can only be accomplished when the two arms are spaced relative to each gther.-- In 'othcrwords, .the'two. arms Hi and [l'l mus fi;rst-be shifted'laterally along the axis of thepivotalconnection H and with respect to eachother so that the extensions: of. the portions wand; i6 can pass; the faces 23; and 25, respectivelyof' the opposing arm. 1 1

. While the foregoingmanipulatio-n or the arms can easily accomplished when a simple pinprovidespivotal connection between the arms I5 and I0 I prefer to use telescoping pins and Slwas disclosed in Fig 4. Moreover, these pins Sitand 3i are hollowed to receive-a tension spring 32; having its ends seeuredto the cap portions 33 and .34 of the pins30 and 31, respectively; The arrangement is such as ,to permit lateral slidingmovcment of the pins 3li-and3i relative tdreaclr=other when the; two arms are manually separated; Fig. 4, into a position allowing: their lower portions to swing Pastthe shank portion of the opposing arm whereupon the spring 32 promptly returns the two lower portions [5 and i5- into abutting :relation with respect to each other. r 'i iAresilientmember such as a rubber band 35,. orkthe like, provided with-a medial pocket 35 and having opposite .ends 3? and 33 suitably secured in any well knownmanner to the. binding post; 18 and I8 respectively, completes the missile'projector of the present invention. This elastic band 35 is readily inverted uponv interchange of the pivoted arms l0 and Hi from one to'the other of their positions of use as will now beexplained. r

When the device is' arranged as is shown in Elg's. 5 and .6 for thepurposeof shooting an arrow 38 at. an object, such as game, itwill be noted that the indentations 2D and 2E) cooperate with each other to provide'an arrow guide 40. g

Conse- H 1 straightyfrom the binding posts l8l8.

launts-r can now continue shooting by picking up 4 in the line of sight between the butt end 4| of the arrow and the object to be hit. Consequently when the pocket 36 is released the arrow is thrust forward along the line of sight and will be projected, without deviation, toward the object aimed at.

Should the hunters store of arrows be exhausted and the game, although sighted, not yet killed, the hunter can quickly convert the missile projector into a slingshot by swinging the arms inversely from the position shown in Fig. 5 to that of Fig. 3. The rubber band 35 is then inverted or twisted into a condition to extend The stories or pebbles which are of a size capable of being shot from the pocket 36. Then too, as

' the hunter advances toward the game and renection H therebetween to limit furthermovee covers arrows which he had previously projected, he can quickly reconvert the device back into an arrow catapult for more. eiitective shotsat the am Ifhe device can be easily carried ones pocket when positionedas an arrow catapult and can i be employed at sporting events for demonstrae ion 10f. s i l. It i ine rensive.;ee y fl red f or stored and provides an, all-round. implement for sportsmen o-f the field. V

While I have specifically described one form of my new missile projector, it will be apparent. that'the same is capable of various. modifications and alterations withou -depar n from the-spi t Of y nion. I t e io e de ire to .ava lmv s lf. or all modi cat ons and alterat ons om n within the purview f. the: appended cl im Wha I. claim as new and desire to rotes by LettersB-at nt; is 1 1. A missile projector comprising a pair of arms pivotally connected adjacent one end thereof for swinging; movement in either direction,

means on the OPDositegend-of each arm. -Provid-.

ing anjanchorage for an elastic sling, me'ans'at said one end of each of saidarms adapted to abut each other and to cooperate-with said pive-v otal. connection. for limiting movementfof said arms in one direction under the-influence of one hand of a person gripping; said arms so asto provide aqslingshot crotch, and'ahead pore tion on the opposite. end {of each .armlate'ral-ly adjacent .theanchorages. thereof adapted toabut each other when" saidJa-rms are swung in "an opposite direction, each saidhead portion havev ing a recess formed thereon in a plane substan-: tially laterally of said anchorages for providing an arrow support between said anchorages. r

2. A missile projector comprising a pair of arms each having a shank-portion and. a head portion provided with a binding post 'and a hump portion extending laterally of and adjacent said binding post, means pivotally connecting said arms together adjacent one extremity of the" shank portion opposite the head portion thereof,

an elastic sling suspended from said-binding thereof engage each other, said humpportions on said arms terminating in indentations cooperating to provide an arrow guide in a plane transversely between said binding posts.

3. A missile projector comprising a pair of arms each having an offset binding post at one of its ends to which is secured the end of an expansible sling and each having a shank vportion provided with a narrower portion adapted to pivotally overlie the narrower. portion of the opposing arm, means connecting said arms togetheri for pivotal movement about an axis extending through the narrower portions thereof, said shank portions each having faces thereon adjacent said narrower portions and said connecting means adapted to engage one another for limiting pivotal movement of said arms in onedirection'by the grasping action of the hand of a person using the device to thereby dispose 'the arms in diverging disposition'with respect to each other, said arms being free to swing in an opposite direction for abutting relation with respect to each other with said arms substantially parallel, and a head portion on the abutting sides of each of said arms in the region'thereof laterally spaced from the oilset binding posts thereof,

said head portions terminating adjacent their abutting sides in indentations cooperating with each other to provide an arrow guide between said binding posts.

4. A missile projector comprising a pair of arms pivotally connected together adjacent their, one'ends and having an expansible sling secured 'swinging movement in an opposite direction into substantially parallel relationship with respect to each other, and a head portion on each of said arms laterally of the'ends thereof to which said expansible sling is secured, said head portions being provided'w'ith humps terminating in v indentations cooperating to provide an arrow guide when said arms are disposed in parallel relationship with respect to each other.

' DONALD BEAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 363,756 Myers May 24, 1887 870,146 Webb Nov. 5, 1907 1,781,530 Smith Nov. 11, 1930 Doll Aug. 1, 1939 

